- Eric Francis via twitter: The Oilers are saying they can’t comment on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. His status for the World Junior Championship is unclear. Francis later notes that they can comment, but choose not to after his MRI. RNH’s agent said that strengthening is needed.
- Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Canucks Keith Ballard is skating with a bunch of NHLers. He hasn’t had any post-concussion symptoms.
“I don’t know what they have in mind for me,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of different partners there and you kind of expect that. With Chris, we’ve had good chemistry and communicated really well. If that happens good. If not, you do the best with what you have.
“My first year was more of an adjustment period than I had probably anticipated and there were a lot of ups and down, but I felt really comfortable last year. I’m in a different role than previously in my career and I’ve done everything I can to embrace my role and do the best I can with it. I just want to continue to do that.”
- John Gallagher and Paul Egan of the Detroit Free Press: The Ilitch family is looking at building a $650 million multi-purpose arena complex in downtown Detroit. The complex would have a rink, residential housing, shopping, office space and more. They have begun “to explore the viability.”
“It’s not a plan for an isolated, single-use structure,” Jackson said in the statement. “Instead, it builds on the clear successes we’ve already had downtown integrating districts that feature entertainment, and support commercial, retail and residential development around them.”